If atheism is a religion...?

If atheism is a religion...

Then baldness is a hairstyle.

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It's a rather poor attempt to caricature a LACK of belief into something that can enter the "my god is real! is not! is too!" type of idiotic discussion, rather than an intellectual one.

If atheism is not free from the dogma arena- if it's not above the fray, then it is easier for the actual religious people to tackle down.

It's very much a straw man strategy.

I should add though, most people who call themselves atheists might as well be religious because many of them are as dogmatic and narrow-minded as religious people.

Regardless, it is always dishonest to call true atheism a religion.

It's the religionist's way of countering charges made about the monstrous atrocities committed against humanity by those who carried the banner of their "God" or "messiah," e.g.:

Many of them actually believe that monsters like Pol Pot, Stalin, and Mao and their genocidal acts were the result of personal agendas to push atheism on their people - you know, the "organized, religious" kind. Since we rational, intelligent people know that this is not a historical fact (they were pushing their own brand of politics to attain personal power, and religion was in their way), we can only wonder when monotheists will stop "thinking" with the chimp part of their brains.

To Pilgrim: You're full of bovine ordure. Atheism is a lack of belief in anything SUPERNATURAL, because (read well) THERE IS NOT NOW, NOR HAS THERE EVER BEEN, ANY EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF SUPERNATURAL BEINGS, PLACES, AND THINGS (like "souls"). Agnostics, on the other hand, are fence stradlers who hold out for the POSSIBILITY that even the absurd god of Abraham may exist, because..."we don't really know." No we don't, but until we do - because the EVIDENCE arrives - there ain't no reason to hedge your bets either way.

Add: There ARE organized atheist and skeptic groups who do push their agendas, but to my mind their main purpose for existing is to counter malignant, malicious, and malevolent religious attacks against science (i.e., vs. creationism and intelligent design), and against encroachment by the "church" over the line that constitutionally separates it from the "state." More power to these organized group of free thinkers and champions of rationality. But most atheists are INDIVIDUALS, not in any way organized, and are just like anybody else, with a major difference: we realize that there is no evidence that there exists any life outside the one we currently live in, so we live our lives in the best ways we can without the cloak of hypocrisy that covers most religious "holier-than-thou" types. Calling atheism a religion is ignorance, which is , of course, what the "Full Armor of God's" and "J3sus" religion thrives on - IGNORANCE.

I'm not sure. But it's clearly not a religion. I guess I don't like the implication that I follow crazy dogma like most religious people do.

Tax breaks don't sound bad though, if there were any atheist groups out there. There might be

Harriet

Theists keep raising this question to attempt to paint atheism as a religion, no different than their own beliefs.

They do not want to understand that atheism is nothing more than a single non-belief (not a belief) in god/s.

First of all, it is not a religion; it is a secular cult. Secondly. if atheism is a religion then atheists who blather on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about how religion is the source of all evil and that nothing ever good comes of it are moronic hypocrites (although atheism need not be a religion for them to be moronic hypocrites).

Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby

Cause then its hypocritical, and becomes another concept of "my religion is right and yours is wrong"

Its not a religion, stop trying to drag us down there with you guys - the whole point of atheism is a-theism, no theism, anti-theism

no ******* theism dude

Well yes it is in a way, so lets look at the similarities of Atheism that is very much like a religion

Creed

No God, anti-God, Pro-homosexuality, anti-Christianity.

Atheism is a belief. I know that many atheists will disagree with this, but the atheists gathered around a common belief of no God, or lack of God, and the need to increase what they perceive as separation of church and state in America.

Crisis

Created a problem and offered a solution. The problem was religious oppression in society with atheistic ideals as the solution.

Assemblies

Gathered in groups with meeting times. Atheists don't meet nearly as frequently as Christians do in their churches, but they do have state meetings, national meetings, and regular gatherings.

Pulpit

The lectern from which speeches were made, their ideas were promoted, and their reasons for their belief system were validated.

Evangelistic

The atheists sought converts to their cause. They frequently spoke about getting the idea of atheism out into society, and to move people away from theism.

Celebration over converts

Rejoiced when converts to their belief system were announced. There was applause and excitement when there were announcements about people who had "come out of the closet" and announced their atheism.

Zealous for their cause

They wanted their cause and belief system expanded to the extent of changing America to reflect their thinking.

Exclusive

Only they have the truth. The atheists repeatedly spoke of how atheism was the truth, and that theists and deists were ignorant of facts and reason.

Us against them mentality

There was a profound description of the division between atheism and theism, with the atheists being the ones who were defending themselves against the intrusive theists.

Concerned about public image

This is normal. They were very concerned with how they were perceived and wanted to change their negative reputation.

Lack of critical thinking

This is common everywhere. Though they thought they were rational, by far most of the arguments and comments weren't.

Misrepresentation of opposing views

Again, another common trait among people who gather in groups, have a common ideology, and see others as being less enlightened.

Voting block

The atheists mentioned voting as a group in order to progress their cause in society.

Infighting

This is normal for groups. We don't all see eye to eye. But, they all held to atheism even though they had disagreements about some particulars.

Money

They didn't have tithing, but there were plenty of things for sale. And, let's not forget to mention how they sought donations to help cover the costs of promoting atheism, paying speakers, renting facilities, etc.

Now, I'm sure there are atheists who will debate a few of the issues listed. But, I am just rendering my opinion of what I saw.

I think it is rather ironic that those who are against religion so much are in actuality so religious themselves. I couldn't help but smile and see the natural tendency of people to gather around an idea, develop a cause, and then promote it. Unfortunately, the atheists have gathered around non-belief and want that non-belief promoted in society. All I have to say is, eternity is a long time to be wrong.

Because even though we are descended from monkeys, there are still monkeys here!

Oh, and it's safer to believe in God and be wrong once you die, than it is to not believe in God and be wrong when you die.

And if atheism ISN'T a religion, what are we doing here on R&S?

Um...do I still get to take drinks when I say those things myself?

Well, better safe than sorry:

drink, drank, drunk!

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